Two sides to the HOKball story
A timely reminder to support the other half of our story
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This year has been a wild ride. The opposition can’t work us out, the fans of other clubs quite like us and at least half of the 81,622 Hawks members understand the meaning of “HOK”.
It has been an unorthodox road to September and somehow that adds to the 2024 fun. This week, in reference to the way the Hawks fans are getting around the team at games and on socials, Dylan Moore said “nothing goes unnoticed”. As a fan, it thrills me to know the players see us fans playing our role.
One of this season’s highlights was Jack Ginnivan kissing the HFC* on his jumper in round 19 against the Pies. While it was probably part “post- breakup” theatrics towards the Pies fans, we know that Ginni grew up a Hawk and can assume the HFC badge has special meaning to him. The brown and gold, and the HFC badge, are what we all share and honour. It is the constant that brings us together as players, fans, Hawks, or HOKS.
Teams and supporters passionately support “the badge” in codes all over the world. In Columbia in 2020, where the round ball game is a religion, there was a campaign where the badge was cut right down the middle. For a season, half the badge was on the strip of the men’s team and the other half on the women’s. This movement was titled “Half Fans” and it encouraged supporters to recognise that the club was more than just the men’s competition. It changed the game for the women’s teams as the fans got on board and filled stadiums. This in turn changed the economic power for the W teams.
As a rusted on Hawks fan, you may not have engaged with our W team (yet). So let me catch you up. Our new Captain Emily Bates is an AFLW Premiership winner, AFLW B&F winner, five time club best and fairest winner (Lions and Hawks) and a three time All Australian.
She has taken our new Hawks line up into two practice matches where we have beaten the Swans on the SCG by 49 points and the Bombers by 15. The team exudes a very rascal-pack vibe. They have clearly worn out the carpet in the gym over the eight month break between AFLW seasons because their muscles now have muscles. Their tackling pressure, skills and strategy in the two early match sims have blown me away.
The AFLW team will kick off their 2024 campaign, Hawthorn’s third season in the competition, on Sunday, September 1, in Frankston against Carlton. Hawthorn and Carlton have never met before because the 10 week home-and-away season does not accommodate teams to play everyone once. A quirk of the AFLW is that history is constantly being made before our eyes.
“I was there when…”
Football fans love to get nostalgic and reminisce with “I was there when…” As an AFLW Hawks fan you haven’t missed the boat to be an early adopter. This season your support might look like buying an AFLW membership (let’s get competitive and blow the other membership bases out of the water). Or it may be clicking follow on the Hawthorn AFLW social accounts.
X(Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram
You might tune in on the AFLW app to watch a quarter, or watch every game live and free on TV. If you get to a Hawks AFLW game, and it is your first, you will notice how it has the vibe of a Glenferrie Oval family day. Food trucks, warm nights, kids and families taking advantage of the shorter quarters and access to hang over the fence and high five players and mascots. The one thing that will be familiar is the power of the brown and gold pride and the “play to win” attitude of the team.
In the words of Julia Chiera (my teammate on The Outer Sanctum Podcast), “AFLW breaks your brain.” Yes, it is Aussie rules footy. The game we love. But it is also the chance to witness history. To see athletes, some of whom were previously denied the chance to play, turn professional.
For Hawthorn, the family club, it is a chance to support the other half of our story. The part we are only just starting to write. This season will be history making. I hope to see you in the outer.
*Technically Ginni’s kiss landed on the “Tasmania” but his accuracy has improved since round 19.
Hawthorn AFLW memberships start at just $65. Sign up here.
Don’t forget to listen in as the HI team goes live on Wednesday nights on X (Twitter). Follow us on social media through the links below:
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this is great. haven’t taken my little girl (9 months) to the footy yet because getting up to the G from the outer south east is a hike and it’s a massive day for her. AFLW at Frankston might be her first footy experience!
Been a member since the team was born,can't wait for Sunday week to start the new season...
Go Hawkettes 🤎💛